Top 10 tips for shopping at the Mall of America

For over ten years now, my cousins and I have been making a yearly overnight trip to the Mall of America in Minnesota. Because we have such a great time together, we've upped it to twice a year, and it still retains that giddy excitement every time. We've found some amazing deals and also have had a few regrets. Let's face it, the place is crazy huge and when you're with friends, the time passes WAY too quickly. To help out anyone that's thinking about making the trip, I've narrowed down my top 10 tips for making the most of your experience.

1. Plan your stay DURING the week. 
MOA turns into crazy town on the weekends. Taking a day of vacation or two is worth the lines and headaches. When you go during the week, you own that place. Trust me. 

2. If possible, stay at Raddison Blu.
The brand new hotel that's connected to the mall is pretty spectacular. Modern architecture, contemporary art work, gorgeous bar and restaurant, I could keep going. No worries about the weather when you can simply walk across a little skywalk and you're there. PLUS, from anywhere in the mall, you can call the concierge and they will come pick up your bags. *insert jaw drop here*  True story.

3. Make a list.
Sometimes I can walk into a store and be so visually overloaded that my mental list simply disappears. Check your closet before you go and figure out what you're looking for.  CLEAR is one of my favorite apps for list keeping. Worth the 5 bucks easy.

4. Dress smart.
This can be a tough one. Pick something that's comfortable, you can slip in and out of quickly AND still feels like you. (if you're anything like me, feeling like a sloppy tourist will bring down the mood and overall experience ;) I generally opt for comfy ballet flats, skinny jeans and a loose top. Don't forget a lightweight cross-body purse to keep your arms free.

5. Drink up.
Keep a lightweight water bottle on you. It's insane how thirsty you can get there. There are water fountains in the food court and by bathrooms that you can fill up at. This also saves you on blowing your budget on overpriced drinks.  

6. Keep track of sales more easily.
Download Malltip. You can add your favorite stores and it will let you know what sales they're having. It also shows you a map where the stores are located in the mall, which is immensely helpful in such a huge place. 

7. Take photos of your faves.
It's hard to say if you'll run into a better deal five stores down so take quick photos to keep track of everything you've found. You'd be surprised at how much you can forget, especially 6 hours and 20 something stores later. Review the list at lunch or the end of the day and go back for the best of the best.

8. Skip local stores.
Hit up the stores that you may not have access to normally. There's only so much time and you want to get your full worth out of your trip.

9. Sign up, know more.
MOA has a great site that you can sign up at to get deals, news, store listings, hours and more. 'nuf said. 

10. Take a map.
It's a little old school, but to help save my phone battery, and avoid hunting down directory kiosks every hour, I take a mini map with me. I printed out a floor plan and added some of my favorite stores. Click here for the interactive directory map. 

I hope this helps if you're planning a trip to the Mall of America or any larger shopping center. Check out some of my wish lists and finds here, here or here.

Happy Shopping Friends ;)